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54
(b) In places provided with proper systems of excrement
disposal, excrements of Cholera and Enteric Fever, after
being treated in detail with the same disinfecting
solution in ample quantity, may be safely put into
the ordinary closet; but special care as to the flushing
of drains and sewers, and special frequency in the
removal and exchange of excrement receptacles, will
commonly be wanted. Where the only closet is one that
communicates with a cesspool or privy pit, the best
arrangement for the disposal of infected stools, that
under these improper local circumstances may be found
practicable, will have to be adopted, e.g., special pails,
furnished with tight-fitting lids and painted a
distinguishing colour, may be furnished and collected
daily by the Local Authority; their contents being
then mingled with sawdust and burnt in a furnace.
(c) The interiors of infected rooms should be disinfected by
skilled persons acting under the directions of the
Medical Officer of Health. The room should be
prepared by the removal of such articles as are best
disinfected by heat, and of bright metallic objects
which would be tarnished; and, where gaseous disinfection
is to be employed, by the closing up of all
openings and crevices. The gas most frequently
employed in the past for the purpose of room-disinfection
has been sulphurous acid gas, obtained by burning
sulphur, or liberated from cylinders in which it had
been compressed for the purpose; but recent experiments
tend to show that the disinfecting power of this
agent has been overrated, and that chlorine gas, which
may be obtained by pouring sulphuric or hydrochloric
acid upon chlorinated lime, and formic aldehyde gas
evolved by means of a special lamp, are more efficacious
disinfectants. But, inasmuch as the infection which has